Friday, June 30, 2006

Tarnished

After 16 years of having a clean driving record, I have gone and got myself my first ever speeding ticket. Be that hard to believe, but it is the truth ;). I've been driving here for 2 1/2 years and most often I don't speed, but on the off chance I do, I've always managed to elude the f**kers. Driving here is slightly different from home, where I will admit (and have done so before) that I'm heavy footed, but was always switched on enough to avoid a ticket. So, after nearly one year with my new UK license I was caught by the money making bastards. So be it. I screwed up and will pay the penalty. Or wait one minute, I screwed up but my loving husband will pay the penalty . I do however still get stuck with the points - as generous as Andy is, he isn't generous enough to take the points (the ticket came in his name as he is the registered owner of the Sportage :)

Pro's of the Actual Cop vs. Speed Cameras...

Actual Police Officer1. You know then and there if you have received a ticket.2. There is a slight chance you might be able to talk your way out of it...3. You sometimes get to appreciate a nice looking Officer in full uniform.

Bastard Cameras1. Your not even sure you've been issued a ticket until it arrives in the mail, so there is no chance of talking your way around it.2. Its an automatic Â£60 fine. (I don't know what the fine is in NS - probably works out to a similar amount)3. You are automatically penalized with three points on your license (I'm not sure how this works back home - if any of you have received a ticket recently, feel free to fill me in ;)

The only GOOD point of a Speed Camera: You don't have the opportunity to humiliatee yourself by trying to plead your way out of a ticket, only to be denied anyway. I, naturally have to exclude myself from this group as I have always managed to talk my way around the cops, even when I had let my vehicle registration expire - however as mentioned previously, I had never been pulled over for speeding.

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I am...

is always looking forward to the next good book or glass of wine. In between reading and drinking I try to maintain a fitness routine to keep physically healthy. I gave up the fight for my mental health a long time ago. Oh, and I could probably win an award for procrastination if there was one.